come to my knowledge may be extended far and wide. 

 I cannot believe, from my acquaintance with the habits 

 of this bird, that it would ever be likely to inflict serious 

 loss upon game-preservers, though, fi"om its habit of 

 hanging around villages, small chickens are occasionally 

 taken by it. In many parts of the continent our bird is 

 still common, especially so in Spain, in which country 

 many Kites may often be seen soaring in wide circles 

 over hill and plain, and their shrill plaintive cry is 

 constantly to be heard. No refuse or garbage comes 

 amiss to these birds, and they are certainly most efficient 

 inspectors of nuisances. The nest of the Kite is usually 

 built in a high tree with a strong foundation and walls 

 of dead sticks, and a curious assortment of various 

 " unconsidered trifles " as lining. Mr. John Hancock 

 has informed me that a Kite's nest, taken many years 

 ago in Northamptonshire, contained a bit of saddle-girth, 

 a bit of red worsted binding, a harvester's glove, and 

 many pieces of paper and linen, and I am acquainted 

 with more than one instance of purses containing money 

 having been found in nests of this bird. The eggs are 

 usually three in number, white, with rust-coloured spots 

 and streaks. 



